The Government has committed to reducing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) general co-payment from $41.50 to $30 through the allocation of $787 million in this year’s Budget.
The Budget allocation is welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, with National President Trent Twomey describing the move as a great step forward for patients across Australia who are battling with the rising costs of living.
This decision, says Professor Twomey, “fulfills an election commitment by the Government” and is the “result of strong advocacy by the pharmacy profession on behalf of patients across the country”.
“As primary healthcare workers, community pharmacists have for some time been hearing patients say they simply cannot afford their medicines,” Professor Twomey said.
“This is a good first step in increasing the universality of the access to medicines for all Australians, while also helping to address cost-of-living pressures.”
Extra Government-funded university places
Professor Twomey also welcomes the Budget measure announced to create an extra 20,000 Government-funded university places across Australia, including for student pharmacists.
“It is significant that a focus of the newly-created university places is the health sector, which has been severely affected by the workforce shortage,” Professor Twomey said.
“This is a strong initiative that will help ease some of the crisis we are seeing across a wide range of health professions, particularly pharmacy.
“There will be additional places for student pharmacists as well as more subsided places for nurses. This is a recognition by the Government of the severe impact the workforce shortages are having on this sector.”
Under the scheme, universities will be required to allocate the new places to disadvantaged students from poorer backgrounds, Indigenous Australians, and students in rural and remote areas.
The National President of the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association, Flynn Swift, also welcomes the move and says it is a recognition of the importance of ensuring more students are able to study for the pharmacy profession.
“The workforce shortage is a real and ongoing issue and the only way to address is to start acting now,” Mr Swift said.
“This is a very sound and proactive initiative.”
